Telescope mount



March 24, 1953 w. R. WEAVER TELESCOPE MOUNT 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Jan. 24. 1949 gvwe/wim William R. Weaver cen aswfl ATTORNEYS March 24, 1953 w. R. WEAVER 2,632,251

TELESCOPE MOUNT Filed Jan. 24. 1949 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 William R. Weaver" I055). 65. 620% swank A T TORNE Y5 Patented Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims. I

The invention relates to a telescope mount, and more particularly to a telescope mount which may be quickly and easily attached to and removed from position on a firearm.

Telescope mounts heretofore used are somewhat large and the mounting and dismounting of the telescope on a firearm is sometimes quite complex. It is not uncommon for the mount to be bulky to an extent to interfere with the eflicient handling and operation of the firearm. Another criticism of telescope mounts provided by the prior art is that the telescope mount cannot be readily positioned on or removed from a firearm. In various mounts that have been proposed where the telescope is rigidly locked to the gun during its use in combination with the firearm so as to retain its locked position on the one hand While absorbing the recoil of the firearm, it has been considered necessary to provide a cumbersome and bulky mount for the telescope.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a telescope mount which is simple in construction but which is strong enough to retain its position on the firearm over an extended period of use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which may be readily clamped in position on a firearm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a telescope mount which is of simple construction but which is strong enough to absorb the shock of recoil of the firearm so as to retain the telescope in its proper position on the mount.

A further object is to provide a telescope mount the construction of which is such that the telescope is wedged and locked in position on the mount, but which can be easily and quickly removed therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a telescope mount for a firearm a base plate adapted to be secured to the firearm, such base plate having a convex or V-shaped rib on each side of said plate and an upper part supporting the telescope adapted to fit on said base plate, there being a groove in the upper part adapted to engage about the rib so as to clamp said upper part and plate together.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating as being mounted on a firearm,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating more clearly the component parts of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the relationship of the upper part or support to the base plate of the telescope mount,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing the telescope in position on the telescope mount which is positioned on a firearm, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 4 the invention is shown as being mounted upon a firearm 3 and having a telescope 4 supported therein. A base plate 5, as more clearly seen in Figures 1, 2, and 3, may be secured to the receiver of a firearm or the firearm by any suitable means, such as the screw 6, as shown in Fig. 1, or the base may be made integral with the firearm. The base plate 5 is provided with the convex or V-shaped ribs I extending longitudinally on each side thereof, and the bottom surface 8 of the plate may be shaped to fit the contour of the receiver of the firearm to which it is to be attached. The top 2| of the base plate 5 may be substantially flat with a lateral groove I2 therein for a purpose hereinafter described.

In order to receive and support the telescope 4, a split ring may be provided in upper part It with the screw I4 so that it may be adapted to telescopes of different diameter. The upper part or support I3 is adapted to be secured to and supported by the base plate 5 which rests on the firearm. To this end there is provided in the support I3 a longitudinal groove I5, which is shaped at one side I6 thereof so as to engage about the rib I on one side of the base plate 5, with the other side I I of the groove l5 being adapted to rest on the portion I8 of the ribbed side I. The groove I5 and its sides I6 and I! are so arranged that there will be an air space 20 extending longitudinally between the bottom of the groove I5 and the top 2| of the plate 5. This arrangement permits the upper part or support I3 and the plate 5 to be clamped or wedged in a locked position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

A shaft 23 is engaged in the upper part or support I3 and passes across the groove I5, with the cut-away or grooved portion I2 in the base plate 5 being adapted to receive and seat the shaft 23 in such plate. A clamp 24 is adapted to engage the surface 30, upper part or support I3, and the surface 25 of the edge or rib I of the plate when wedged and locked in position by the nut 2i on the end of the shaft 23.

It is to be noted that an air space 28 is provided between the inside surface of the clamp 24 and the edge 29 of the upper part i3 whereby the clamping action of such clamp is exerted on the surface or edge 30 of the upper support I3 and the surface 25 of the plate 5. In this manner when the nut 2'1 is rotated on the shaft 23 to clamp the upper part [3 and the base plate 5 together the upper support'and the plate will be wedged together substantially along their line of contact on their surfaces I! and I8. The angle of contact between the surfaces I? and I8 is such that the upper part I3 is moved downward along its surface I! on the surface It. This in turn clamps or wedges the upper part or support and plate together on the opposite side adjacent the portion It in the groove.

Since the cross bolt or shaft 23 exerts a direct ,pull on the edge or rib E when the nut 27 is tightened, the upper part 53 and the plate 5 become wed ed and locked in position. In addition, in view of the fact that the cut-away portion or groove l2 extends laterally with respect' to the axis of the receiver of the gun, it can readily be seen that recoil of the gun will be absorbed by the mount without moving the telescope longitudinally thereof. In other words, the upper part or support it and the'plate 5 are locked in longitudinal relationship on the firearm.

Because of the arrangement of the groove l5 with respect to the plate 5, the combination with the particular construction of the clamp 2d and its manner of contact with the upper part I3 and plate 5 in addition to the manner of mounting the cross bolt 23, a telescope mount 'is provided whereby the scope may be locked in position on the gun simply by rotation of the nut 21. While this advantage arises from the construction, it is to be particularly noted that the telescope may be removed from the firearm merely by loosening the nut 2'! on the cross bolt or shaft 23.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the base plate 5 is shown as being mounted at the side of the receiver or firearm 3. However, it is to be noted that the base plate in this alternate embodiment is similarly provided with the convex or V-shaped edges or ribs 1 extending longitudinally along the side of the plate. Similarly a longitudinal groove or undercut I5 is provided in the upper part or support i3 which has a portion It engaged about one of the beveled ribs or edges 1. Additionally, a portion I? of the groove I5 fits on a surface IS on the opposite edge of the base plate 5.

In lieu of the cross bolt 23 and clamp 26 for securing the upper support I3 and the base plate 5 together, there is provided a screw 32, which is off center with respect to the center of the base plate 5 so that as it is rotated to lock the upper part it and base plate 5 together it causes the portion I! of the groove 15 to move down wardly on the surface I 8 of the rib or edge 1. This wedging action in turn causes the portion l6 of the groove 5 to clamp tightly against the rib or edge I. The screw 32 looks the telescope on the firearm and prevents relative longitudinal movement between the gun and telescope due to recoil of the firearm.

It is to be noted that in this modification of the invention the groove 15 is also so arranged in the upper part that its surface will not contact the top surface 2! of the base plate 5, thereby providing an air space 28 which permits the Wedging and clamping action hereinabove de scribed.

As illustrated in Fig. l, a plurality of base plates may be positioned on the receiver or on the firearm to receive the upper support which supports the telescope sight; however, if desired, one base plate of a greater length could be used in lieu of a plurality of plates. Additionally, the support It may be made integral with a telescope, if desired.

While one embodiment has been illustrated as being preferred, it seems obvious that a number of modifications may be had without departing from the scope of the invention.

Broadly, the invention contemplates a telescope mount which is of such construction that the telescope sight may be locked in position on the firearm to absorb recoil of the firearm without becoming dislodged, but which telescope mount may be quickly and easily removed from the firearm.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mount for telescopic sights, a base plate adapted to be secured to a firearm, a V- shaped rib on each side of said plate, an upper support adapted to support the telescopic sight, there being a groove on the nether side of said support shaped on one side to fit about one of said V-shaped ribs on said base plate with the opposite side of said groove resting on the top side of the other of said V-shaped ribs on said base plate, said groove forming a clearance between said plate and upper support, a shaft engaged in said support and passing across said groove, said shaft extending outwardly from between said support and plate and having a threaded area thereon, said plate having a cutaway portion to receive said shaft, and a clamp on said threaded area of said shaft engaging said support and the nether side of said other V- shaped rib to clamp said support and plate together.

2. A mount for telescopic sights comprising, a base plate adapted to be secured to a firearm, a V-shaped rib on each side of said plate, an upper part adapted to support the telescopic sight, there being a groove on the nether side of said upper part shaped on one side to fit about one of said V-shaped ribs on said base plate with the opposite side of groove resting on the top side of the other of said V-shaped ribs on said base plate, a shaft engaged in said upper part and passing across said groove, said shaft extending outwardly from between said support and plate and having a threaded area thereon, there being a cut-away portion between said plate and upper part which forms a clearance between said plate and part to receive said shaft, a clamp on said threaded area of said shaft and engaging said support and the nether side of said other V-shaped rib, and a nut threaded on said shaft and abutting said clamp, said nut movable along the threaded area of said shaft whereby said clamp engages said plate and upper part together as a unit.

3. A telescope mount for a firearm comprising, a base plate adapted to be secured to a firearm, a V-shaped rib longitudinally along each side of said plate, a support adapted to be mounted on said plate, there being a groove in said support shaped on one side to fit about one of said ribs in clamping relationship therewith when said support and plate are secured together with the opposite side of said groove resting on the top side of the other of said V-shaped ribs, and screw means mounted on said support 011 center with respect to said base plate to wedge said groove and rib in to clamping relationship to lock said support and plate together.

4. A telescope mount for a firearm, comprising, an upwardly facing base plate adapted to be secured to a firearm, the longitudinal edges of said base plate each being formed to have a downwardly inclined upper surface convergent along its outer margin with an upwardly inclined lower surface, a telescope support bracket having a base member for releasable attachment to said base plate, said base member being provided along its longitudinal edges with downwardly and outwardly inclined marginal portions generally complementary in slope to said upper inclined surfaces and adapted to seat thereon, one of said marginal portions having an inwardly turned lip portion shaped to extend over the margin of the adjacent edge of the base plate into engagement with the lower surface of said adjacent edge to thereby lock the base member to the base plate along said adjacent edge, and clamping means compressively urging the inclined surface of the other marginal portion of the base member and the upper surface of the other edge of the base plate toward each other.

5. A telescope mount as defined in claim 4 wherein said clamping means comprises a generally C-shaped clamping plate having its inturned ends embracing said other marginal portion and the upwardly inclined lower surface of said other edge of the base plate, and screw means extending transversely of the mount between said clamping plate and the opposite side of said base member.

6. A telescope mount as defined in claim 4 wherein said clamping means comprises a screw extending downwardly between the base member and the base plate and offset laterally from the longitudinal center lines thereof toward said other marginal portion and said other edge of the base plate.

WILLIAM R. WEAVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,362,320 Joek Dec. 14, 1920 1,428,655 Noske Sept. 12, 1922 1,770,451 Baker July 15, 1930 1,856,549 Griffin et a1. May 3, 1932 2,101,037 ONeil Dec. 7, 1937 2,151,768 Humeston Mar. 28, 1939 2,401,825 Gruver June 11, 1946 2,449,551 Garand Sept. 21, 1948 2,452,592 Meyer Nov. 2, 1948 2,491,431 Unertl Dec. 13, 1949 

